Machine for making barbed wire



March 30, 1954y J. B. GErz MACHINE OR MAKING BARBED WIRE 10 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 26, 1949 Illl ==EE=E! /HVE'H fr QO/zlz, Geiz J. B. GETZ MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE March 30, 1954 Filed Feb. 26, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1954 J. B. GETZ MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1949 l mi HNI NIMH

March 30, 1954 J. B. GETz MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1949 March 30, 1954 a (5E-rz 2,673,578

MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE Filed Feb. 26, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 [nya/7 fr March 3o, 1954 J. B. GETZ 2,673,578

MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE Filed Feb. 26, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I l l:

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169 264 w I 262 I w 21,0 20 I" lA r 2j .5 k n 240 218 J I J '4 'E' l I Il T l 256 l l L i /224 249 /nyenff 250 I LfO/Zz YEZ J. B. GETz 2,673,578 MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE l0 Sheets-#Shout 7 w m mf w 2 m w www HUH 4MM ,h w HW y g I: 2.1L M V9 ,L M m y t 2 Q ,V2 l l Y E ww M 2 i 2 .M 6 L T'jlOllJu/ #0 3 m w j.- w ff- 2 4 l. du @u W 4 f/ M 2 W f ,d m ww a 3/ 2 2 @2 m 2 March 30, 1954- F'iled Feb. 26, 1949 March 30, 1954 J. B. GE'rz MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE 1o snets-sheet a Filed Feb. 26, 1949 March 30, 1954 J. B. GE-rz MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE .Io sheets-sheet 9 Filed Feb. 26, 1949 n lll/i March 30, 1954 J. B. GETZ MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE 10 Sheets-Sheet le Filed Feb. 26, 1949 Patented Mar. 30, 1954 2,673,578 MACHINE FOR MAKING BARBED WIRE John B. Getz, Morton, ing Fence Company, of Illinois Ill., assigner to Interlock- Morton, Ill., a corporation Application February 26, 1i49, Serial No. '78,627 3 Claims. (01.,"140-(10) This invention relates to a. machine for making barbed wire. More particularly, it has to do with a barbed wire making machine that is arranged to automatically carry out the complete operation of making barbed wire from the in troduction of separate strands of wire into the machine to remove a coil of barbed wire therefrom.

Heretofore, barbed wire had been made in machines wherein the barbs are attached to wire that travels in a substantially horizontal direction. A plurality of cams control the various cutting and bending operations of these machines. However, a horizontal type machine takes up a considerable amount of valuable iioor space and, due to the disposition of the structure, the working parts of the machine are positioned in inaccessible places making repair and maintenance an expensive problem.

The removal of the wire after it has been formed and Wound on a spool has always presented a difiicult problem. 'I'he barber wire making machines being used at present wind the wire on a spool which is secured at the lower end of the machine requiring that the operator crawl partially under the machine to release the spool. This procedure is not only dangerous for the operator but is also a very ineii'icient method of releasing the spool.

Another deficiency inherent in the present machines is their inability to effectively bring the barbs and the carrier wires together in a manner so that the barbs may be accurately attached to the wires. Thus, most machines spit" many barbs and secure the barbs at unequal spaces on the carrier wire. Thus, many barbs are wasted and the iinishecl barbed wire often has unequally spaced barbs.

Finally, hitherto there has been no eiiicient or accurate way of calculating the length of the wire wound on the spool. Thus, the weight of various spools, when ready for delivery to the customer, vary as much as ten pounds. Under these conditions it is very difficult to calculate the expense of producing a spool of wire.

According to the features of the present invention, barbs are secured on a carrier wire as it is positively drawn in a vertical direction through the machine. A novel rotating twister head engages an auxiliary barb-forming wire that is positively fed transversely of the carrier wire and twisted around the carrier wire just prior to being severed by automatically controlled cutting blades. The positive movement of both the car rier Wire and the auxiliary wire assures the tight securement of the barbs to the wire and cause equal spacing of the barbs on the wire.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an automatic machine for making barbed wire which is simple and eiicient in operation.

l Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for positively moving a wire lhrough the various forming operations of the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for feeding an auxiliary wire to the barb-attaching station of the machine for the bending and cutting of barbs therefrom.

j A further object of this invention is to provide an improved twister head for bending the barbs around the carrier wire.

' A still further object oi this invention is to provide a novel barbed wire forming machine which may be quickly and eiiciently changed from a machine for vproducing two-point barbs to a machine for producing four-point barbs.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a barbed wire machine in which the wire is automatically wound on a spool disposed at a point convenient to the reach of the operator. Another important object of this invention is to provide a barbed wire machine having a rigid construction which substantially eliminates vibration of the machine during operation.

l it is an object of this invention to provide an upright barbed wire forming machine occupying small floor space.

A further object of this invention is to provide a barbed wire forming machine in which all working parts are readily accessible for inspection, maintenance and repair.

. A still further object is to provide a novel twister head of simple construction wherein many parts used heretofore have been eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a barbed wire forming machinefeaturing a onelip twister head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of forming barbed Wire.

An important object is to provide a barbed wire forming machine that will accurately secure barbs at regular intervals on a carrier Wire.

A still further object barbed wire forming machine that throws or spits but a negligible number of barbs, if any, thereby providing uniform wire at less cost than hereto-l fore possible. I v A feature of this invention resides in the provision or a machine that measures the nished wire accurately so that spools of iinished wire wili all be of a constant weight within very close limits, thus addingto economy of production.

Another feature of this machine is the provision of a simplied and eiicient construction utilizing a friction clutch in association with the A winding reel.

An important feature of this machine is the provision of` means for selectively varying the spacing or the barbs on the carrier wire.

Other and further features, advantages and;

p objects of the present-invention will become apis to provide a novely parent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in connection with the annexed sheet of drawings.

As shown on the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a barbed wire making machine constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional view taken substantially on line II-II of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line III- III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line IV--IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line VI-VI of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal view taken on line VII- VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged first fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line VIII- VIII of Figure '1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a portion of the barb-attaching station of the machine constructed according to the present invention as shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 9 showing the barbs in a bent position;

Figure l1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figures 9 and 10 showing the barbs in a further twisted position;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of the barb-attaching station shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 but showing the wires after the barb had been severed from the auxiliary wire;

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the barb-attaching station of the machine of the present invention just after the barb has been twisted and severed and raised away from the barb-attaching station;

Figure 15 is a detached perspective view of a portion of the barbed wire making machine of Figure l;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken along the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15;

Figure 1'1 is a perspective view similar to Figure l5 but showing a modified adapted member for use when a two-point barb is made in this machine;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary plan view of the barb attaching station of the barbed wire making machine of the present invention showing the machine as arranged to make a two-point barb;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 18 showing the barb in a twisted condition;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of a two-point barbed wire as it is being drawn away from the barb-attaching station of the machine;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line XXI-XXI of Figure 5;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line XXII-XXII of Figure 21; and

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic showing of the barbed wire making machine of the present invention as adapted for making two-point barbs and showing in solid lines the path of the wire as it is processed through the-machine.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures l, 2 and 3 a machine constructed according to the teachings of this invention is illustrated as arranged to make a four-point barbed wire. A pair of carrier wires III and II are drawn substantially vertically through a barbattaching station I3 by means of a power-driven gear mechanism I5. After passing through the barb-attaching station I3, the wires are directed over a series of idler wheels and through a cage i6, Figure 2, where they are twisted around each other and wrapped onto a storage drum I8.

Separate strands of barb-forming wire 20 and 2| are positively drawn, by drive mechanisms 22 and 23, respectively, from a supply source and pushed between the vertical strands I0 and II at the barb-attaching station I3 where a twister head assembly 25 wraps the `strands 20 and 2| around the strands I0 and i I, and a cutter assembly 21 severs the strands 2O and 2| at convenient lengths to form barbs.

Mechanism for drawing the strands 10 and 11 through the 'machine The main timing shaft 30 is journaled in pillow blocks 3! and 32 on side structural members 34 and 35 of a supporting frame structure 36. The shaft 3Q is driven from a motor 38 through a V-belt drive 38. A friction clutch 40 manually operated through a lever 42 is arranged to connect the pulley 4I, around which the V-belt is trained, into driving contact with the main timing shaft 38.

As is shown in Figure 3, the lever 42 may be pivotally connected at its end to an arm 43 secured to the structural member 35 and be provided substantially between its end portions with a pin 44 which is pivotally connected to the clutch assembly 48.

A plurality of guide pulleys 45, 45, 41 and 48 are disposed for free rotation on shafts 49, 50, 5I and 52, respectively, which are secured at their end portions by straps 53 to the side frame members 34 and 35. lThese guide pulleys are located substantially intermediate the side members 34 and 35 of the frame structure and are retained against sidewise or lateral movement by means of sleeves 54 (Figure 2) which are keyed or pinned to the associated shaft. The guide pulleys 45, 46, 41 and 48 have an open frame construction which substantially eliminates bending of the barbs as the wire is directed over the wheels and provides arms which have surfaces against which the barbs will abut for aiding the rotation of the wheels and the movement of the barbed wires through the machine. The wheels have a substantially V-shaped groove which receives the barbed wire therein.

A large gear 5S is secured, by any suitable means, to one side of the guide pulley 41 for rotation therewith on the shaft 5I. This gear 55 is in mesh with a gear 58 which is disposed for free rotation on a shaft 59 which is secured by straps 68 to upright portions of the side frame members 34 and 35. The gear 58 is secured to a pulley 6I and a sprocket 63 driven by a chain 62 also trained around a sprocket 64 that is journalled for free rotation on a timing shaft 65. The sprocket 64 is secured to the hub of a gear 58 also freely rotatable on the shaft 65 and in mesh with a gear 69 keyed to the main timing shaft 38.

Thus, the guide pulley 41 is rotated through. the gears 56 and 58, the sprockets 63'and 64, land the gears 68 and 69 from the main timing shaftj l311. It will, of course, be understood that the guide wheels 45 and 46, being freely journalled on their respective shafts, are rotated by the contact of the barbed wire as it passes thereover. It is to be noted that the wire is in friction contact with approximately half of each of the driven pulleys 41 and 6i. This frictional engagement, plus the abutting contact of the barbs with the arms of the pulleys, provide the force for pulling the wire through the barb-attaching station I3.

An indexing pulley or pull-up wheel 1| is journalled for free rotation on a shaft 12 which is pivotally connected on either side of the wheel 1I to pivoting arms 14 and 15 (Figure 5). The arms 14 are also pivotally mounted on the shaft I, while the arms 15 are secured by bolts 16 to an eye end member 11. The arms 15 are held in spaced relation by a bracket 1S which is secured therebetween at the point where the eye ends 11 are connected to the arms 15. As best seen in Figure 2l, the end member 11 has a uniform circular opening 13 therein. An adjusting sleeve member Sii is disposed in the opening 18 and rests on a shoulder portion 8l (Figure 5) of the eye end member 11. The sleeve has an opening 83 therein which is located eccentrically with relation to the opening 18 so that the inner wall of the sleeve defines an eccentric camming surface. The shaft 65 has two hub portions 85 which are eccentrically mounted on the shaft and are disposed in the opening 83 of the adjusting sleeve Sii. Square holes 86 are out into the members 85 and 8i] at their abutting peripheral portion. These square holes, which are arranged to receive locking bolts 81, are around the eccentric surfaces with one hole being disposed at the point of minimum eccentricity of the sleeve 88. By loosening the bolts 8i and withdrawing them from the holes and then re volving the member 85 through 90, a different adjustment of the throw of the rods 15 may be obtained. Thus, three adjustable positions are available, that of minimum throw, an intermediate throw, and a maximum throw without any substitution of parts. When the bolts 81 are secured in place the eccentric end portion acts as a unit revolving eccentrically about the shaft 55, and thus the arms 15 are reciprocated in a substantially vertical direction to raise and lower the indexing pulley 1I. The adjusting effect of the bolts 81, of course, regulates the amount which the wheel 1! is moved in the vertical direction.

As seen in Figure 1, the carrier wires Il) and l l are directed vertically through the barb-attaching station I3 and then consecutively over the guide pulleys 45, 1I, 48, 41, 6I and 48. Since the guide wheels 6l and 41 are positively rotated, the wire disposed in the grooves in these wheels will frictionally engage these wheels or will abut the arm members of the open construction of the wheels and draw the strands of wire along over the guide pulleys 4t, 1I and 45. It is to be particularly noted that the pulleys 6I and 51 are positively rotated all during the operation of the motor and that the arms 15 are actuated in a vertical direction by the eccentric which is disposed about the shaft 65 which is also in the drive assembly. Thus, there is a definite timed coordination between the movement of the wires over the guide pulleys and the vertical actuation of the guide wheels 1l.

Periodically the guide wheel 1I is pulled downwardly by the eccentric mechanism thus causing the strands `of wire l0 and l I to be pulled up-4 disposed at 90 intervals wardly out of the barb-attaching station I3 a definite distance depending upon the setting of the eccentric mechanism. It is to be noted that the driving guide wheels 41 and 6I are rotating as the indexing wheel 1| moves downwardly, and therefore the wires I 0 and II will be indexed rapidly due to the double feeding effect. When the pulley 1I moves upwardly, the feeding effect of the pulleys t1 and '6I will take up the loop of wire which the downward movement of the pulley 1I has formed. Thus, in effect, the strands of wire I (I and I I between the barb-attaching station I3 and the guide pulley 45 remain stationary except when the guide pulley 1I is pulled downwardly to index the strands I and II a predetermined distance away from the barb-attaching station. It will, of course, be understood that the downward and upward movement of the guide pulley 1i may be so regulated with respect to the feeding action of the pulleys 41 and 6I that the strands of wire will be in contact with the base of the pulley groove during the upward movement of the pulley 1I.

It will be readily recognized that thisJ apparatus provides a positive means for measuring the amount of wire that is formed in this machine since the guide pulley 1I has a definite stroke and is actuated a definite number of times per minute. Thus, by merely counting the number of times the wheel 1i is actuated, the exact amount of wire wound around the storage drum can be accurately ascertained.

Mechanism for rotating the cage 16 to twist the barbed wire strands At the right end of the machine, as seen in Figure 1, a cage it is supported between the side structural members 34 and 35. This cage comprises a substantially U-shaped frame which has a lower base strap 3Q (Figure 2) and two side straps BI and 92 integrally formed. At the upper end, the side straps SI and 92 converge to form a hollow cylindrical portion 93. This portion 93 is rotatably mounted on bearing assembly 95 between support arms St which extend across the machine from the side members 34 and 35. At the lower end of the cage I 5 a shaft 98 depends therefrom and has a lower portion 9a of reduced diameter disposed in a bearing assembly |00 for rotation relative to a plate mi which is secured, as by welding, to the base of the frame structure. Thus, the cage i8 has bearing portions journalled at the upper and lower ends in bearing assemblies and is arranged for rotation about a vertical axis.

At the lower end of the cage I 6 and spaced from the frame member QI there is provided an integral upstanding arm member I 83 which is connected to the cage frame structure by means of cross members It and |05. A sleeve |01, having an arm E88 at one end thereof projecting laterally from the axis of the sleeve, is rotatably journaled in a bearing I 88 disposed in the wall of the frame member 9| and in the upper bearing portion H8 of the arm |03. A plate H2 of a clutch assembly H3 is keyed to the sleeve lill' and carries at its outer peripheral portion an annular ring IIE which is made of a friction type material such as brake lining. A second plate H1 of the clutch assembly II3 has a central opening lit freely receiving a hub portion of the plate H2. The plate II'I also carries an annular ring Ii of brake lining material at its peripheral portion in alignment with the brake lining material I i5 of the plate II 2. A beveled gear I22 has a central opening I23 into which the body portion of the plate H2 is slidably disposed. Thus, a portion of the beveled gear |22 is disposed between the friction elements H5 and ||1 and is arranged to be driven thereby. The plates ||2 and ||1 are connected by a plurality of bolts |24 which have nuts |25 clamping a spring element |26 between the plate H1 and the nuts. By adjusting the nut on the bolt, the tension of the spring may be regulated to vary the pressure with which the friction elements engage the beveled gears for driving the same.

It will be recognized that, for any speed of rotation of a spool, the lineal speed of the wire being wound thereon will be progressively increased as the effective diameter of the spool increases. To compensate for this, the clutch H3 acts as a slip clutch and winds the wire on the spool only as fast as it is fed upon the pulley 6|. Thus, as the bevel gear |22 is rotated, the friction ltype clutch assembly H3 will cause rotation of the sleeve H1 and its associated arm |08.

The arm |08 of the sleeve |09 is arranged to abut a projecting arm |26 which is secured to the peripheral portion of a plate |21, to which is attached the spool i8 around which the wire is arranged to be wrapped or wound. The spool comprises wire frame end members |29 and |30 connected by the axial frame portion |3|. The member |29 is removably secured to the plate |21 while the end member |36 is removably supported by a plate |32. The members |29 and |30 are rotatably journalled on a shaft |34 which is journalled in the bearing |09 in the frame member 9| and in a hub portion of the frame member 92. This shaft has a handle portion |33 which permits quick withdrawal of the shaft from its bearing support. Thus, in removing the loaded spool, it is necessary only to pull the shaft |34 out of its bearing support and the spool I8 will roll onto the oor into an easily accessible position where it may be at once taken away with no danger to the operator. The bevel gear |22 is rotated by a gear drive which includes a bevel gear |35 in mesh with the gear |22 and keyed to a shaft |36 which is journaled in the frame structure members |04 and |05. At its lower end the shaft |36 is pinned to a gear |38 which is in mesh with an idler gear |39 which in turn is in mesh with a gear |40. The gear |40 has a central opening to receive the shaft 98 of the cage I6 for free rotation therein and has a lower flange portion |4| secured by means of cap screws to the base plate |0| which is rigidly connected to the frame of the machine.

Thus it will be seen that as the cage is rotated the gear |39, which is rotatably journalled on a shaft |43 secured to the cage, will roll around the gear |40 and cause rotation of the gear train which ultimately drives the gear |22 and rotates the spool on which the wire is wound.

The wire is evenly fed onto the spool by means of a guide pulley |45 rotatably journalled on a shaft |46 rigidly secured to the frame members 9| and 92. The shaft |46 is provided with a recess portion |41 and a plurality of guide elements |48 secured thereon provided with slanted side walls defining a pair of spiral paths extending in opposite directions axially on the shaft |46. The pulley |45 has an arm member (not shown) which projects inwardly from its central cylindrical hub portion for following in the spiral path defined by the elements |48, and thus the pulley |45 travels back and forth along the shaft |46 and guides the wire then disposed in the grooves of the pulley over the windup spool I8.

The cage I6 is rotated by means of a bevel gear |50 keyed to the upper cylindrical member 33 of the cage. This bevel gear |50 is in mesh with a second bevel gear |5| keyed to the hub |56a of a sprocket |56. Both the gear |5| and the sprocket |56 are freely rotatable on a shaft |52 journalled in a bearing portion |53 of the frame structure of the machine.

The sprocket |56 carries a chain |51 also trained about a driving sprocket |58 (Figure 3) which is keyed to the main timing shaft 36. As the shaft rotates, the cage is rotated about its vertical axis. It will be seen in Figure l that the chain |51 is trained over a guide sprocket |60 freely rotatable on the shaft 59. This guide sprocket |60 prevents the chain |51 from becoming entangled with the mechanism disposed about the shaft 59.

A protecting gate |6| (Figure l) is mounted on hinges |62 on the frame structure of the machine.

Thus, the cage |6 is a vertical axis in the mounted for rotation about frame structure of the machine and is driven through a chain and gear mechanism directly from the main timing shaft 30 of the machine. Through the series of gears mounted on the cage I6, the storage spool I8 on which the wire is wound is driven by the rotation of the cage I6 itself. The spool |8 is spun endfor-end causing the strands of wire to be twisted around each other as the cage rotates.

Mechanism ,for positively feeding the strands of wire 20 and 21 through the barb-attaching station 13 Referring to Figures 1 and 6, it will be seen that the auxiliary wires 20 and 2| are moved from opposite directions across the barb-attaching station I3. At the barb-attaching station there is disposed a pair of blocks |63 and |64 which are secured, by any suitable means, to the frame structure of the machine. Guide tubes |66 and |61 have end portions disposed in openings in insert members |68 and |69 clamped in recesses of the blocks |63 and |64, respectively, by cover members |16. The guide tubes |66 and |61 have central openings which receive the `wires 20 and 2|, respectively, and guide them in a downwardly slanted direction across the barb-attaching station. The lower ends of the inserts |68 and |69 have slanted walls to receive the wires and hold them in the downwardly slanted position.

The wires are fed across the barb-attaching station by means of the feed assemblies 22 and 23, respectively. Since these feed devices are substantially identical, it is believed that a description of one of these devices will be sufficient to adequately disclose this feature of the invention.

As seen in Figure 1, the feeding device 22 comprises a feed disk |18 keyed to a shaft |19 which is suitably journalled in a pillow block secured to the frame of the machine. The disk |18 has on its periphery a recessed portion |82 extending substantially entirely around the periphery with the exception of a camming surface |83 which extends above the portion |82 and defines an arcuate gripping surface coacting with a roller |84 rotatably journalled on a shaft |85 in a spring-urged block member |86. The block |86 is slidably disposed in a housing |81 and has a stud |88 threaded on the upper wal1 thereof. The stud passes freely through an opening in the housing |81 and is provided with a ring 9| which is secured thereon as by brazing. A spring |89 is disposed about the stud |118 between the ring 19| and the inner wall of the housing |81 and is arranged to urge the block |86 downwardly out of the housing |31. A pair of lock nuts |93 are threaded on the end of the stud |83 providing means for rotating the stud to vary the tension of the spring |23. The housn ing |81 1s rigidly secured to a support structure |92 which is secured, as by welding, to the frame of the machine and carries an arm member |93 on which is rotatably disposed a wheel |94 having a central groove |95 extending around the periphery. The wheel |94 is a guide wheel and prevents the wire 20 from sliding sidewise off the disk |18.

It will thus be seen that, as the disk |16 is rotated on the shaft the camming surface |83 will periodically engage a portion of the wire 29 pressing it against the roller |84 to feed the wire positively forwardly as long as the camming surface |83 presses against the wire. In Figure 6, with a clockwise rotation of the disk |13, the end of a feeding cycle is illustrated.

As before mentioned, the feeding device 23 is substantially identical to the feeding device 22 with the exception that the bracket E91 on which the housing portion of the device is mounted does not carry an arm similar to the arm 93 carrying the wheel |93. There is no need for a roller 19t since the wire 2i approaches the feeding device |16 as it travels in a straight line. However, as seen in Figure 1, the wire 2| is disposed around a pulley |99 rotatably disposed on a shaft 2te (Figure 3) journalled between brackets 20| secured to the support structure.

As best seen in Figure 1, the shaft |19 is rotated by means of a chain 202 trained around a sprocket 203 keyed to the shaft |19, and around a sprocket 204 keyed to the main timing shaft 30. The feed disc 295 of the feed device assembly 23 is keyed to the shaft 65 which carries a gear 20E in mesh with a gear 201 keyed to the main timing shaft 30. It will, of course, be understood that the shafts |19 and t5 are rotated at the same speed so that the vwires 2i] and 2| will be fed an equal distance into the barb-attaching station.

Mechanism for twisting the strands 20 and 21 around the strands and, 11

The device for twisting the strands 29 and 2| comprises a twister head 2|0 (Figure 14) including a cylindrical body portion 2|| and two oppositely disposed wedge-like twister elements 2|2 and 2|3 which are located on the peripheral portion of the head 2|il. The twister portions have upwardly slanted upper walls and flat inner side walls 2 i4 and 2| 5, respectively.

The twister head 2|!! is threaded into a recess of a hollow tubular shaft 211 (Figure 6) which is journalled at its upper and lower ends in bear-- ing assemblies 2|@ and 215i, respectively, for rotation aboutl a substantially vertical axis. The shaft 2|1 is keyed to a worm 220 meshing with a spiral gear 22| keyed to the main timing shaft 30. Thus, the shaft 2 i1 and the twister head 2 I 0 are constantly rotated by the main timing shaft 30.

the lower threaded the shaft between A lock nut 223 is secured on end of the shaft 2|1 to hold the bearing assemblies.

A rod 224 is freely disposed in the central opening of the tubular rod 2|1 and has at either side ,I cammed upwardly away longitudinal grooves 224e (Figure 15) in which.

are disposed the wires I0 and At its lower end the guide rod 224 carries a plate 225 which is adjustably mounted by means of set screws 229 and a locking plate 221 on a bracket 229 which may be suitably secured to the frame of the machine. The guide rod 224 is therefore held rigidly relative to the frame and extends upwardly through the hollow core of the tubular rotating rod 2|1.

As seen in Figures 6 and 7, the auxiliary strands 20 and 2| extend across the barb-attaching station I3 in a downwardly slanted direction between the upwardly extending strands l0 and In Figure 7, the initial position of the four strands of wire prior to the twisting of the barbs is illustrated.

As seen in Figures 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the twister head 2|0 is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. In Figure 7, the initial position is shown, and in Figure 9 the position of the wires is shown after the twister head has rotated It will be seen that the wall 2| 4 of the twister element 2|2 has contacted the wire 20 and bent it substantially 90 while the wall 2|5 of the twister element 2|3 has contacted the strand 2| and bent it substantially 90. In Figure 10 substantially 270 of rotation has taken place and the strands 20 and 2| have been wrapped around each other and around the upstanding strands I0 and This position is also shown in elevation in Figure l1. In Figure 12 the twister head has rotated approximately past one full revolution, thus winding each of the strands 20 and 2| about the other strand and about both of the upstanding strands 0 and At this point they are severed by a cutting mechanism to be described hereinafter.

It is to be noted in Figure 11 that the strands 20 and 2| are kept under the slanted edges of the guide blocks |68 and |69 until the twisting operation has begun. Also, after the twisting operation has begun and the twisted wire accumulates around the twister head, it will be from the surface of the twister head, as shown in Figure 11. Further, it is to be noted that the wires I0 and I will twist slightly during the twisting operation of the strands 20 and 2|, and their point of twisting will be governed by the position of the upper end of the guide rod 224. As before mentioned, the position of this guide rod can be regulated by the adjusting screws 226 and the collar 221.

Cutter mechanism The mechanism for severing the strands 20 and 2| to cut the barbs comprises two cutter blades 235 and 236 (Figure 10) having arcuate cutting edges 231 and 238, respectively. These blades are slidable on arcuate guide surfaces 229 and 230 in the blocks |68 and |69. The cutter blades have square shank portions which extend into square holes 232 (Figure 8) in a V-shaped block 233 and are held therein by means of a plurality of set screws 234 threaded into the top of the V-shaped blocks to bear against the shank of the cutter. The block 233 which has a. V-shaped groove on its upper surface has a substantially rectangular cross section and is disposed in a groove 239 provided in a bracket 240 secured to the frame of the machine. Plates 24| and 242, secured to the bracket 240 by bolts 244, have a portion overlapping the block 233 thereby to provide a trackway for sliding movement of the block 233. It is also obvious that by loosen-.-

ing the set screws 234 the blades themselves may be adjusted in the block 233.

The cutter blades 235 and 236 are moved for- Wardly and rearwardly in their cutting stroke by means of a rocker mechanism 245 (Figure 7). This mechanism comprises a lever 246 pivoted substantially at its central portion on a pin 241 which is secured in the frame of the machine and carries at one end a roller 248 mounted for rotation about a pin 249 disposed in the bifurcated end of the lever 246. The roller 248 is arranged to roll along the surface of the gear 22| and periodically ride over a cam member 250 (Figure 8) secured on the gear face. The roller is urged against the surface of the gear 22| by means of a spring 252 disposed about a rod-like projection 253 on the end of the arm 246 and a projection 254 having a shoulder member 255 and a threadedv shank' 256. The shank 256 is threaded into the end of a support arm 258 secured as by a bolt 259 to the frame of the machine. The spring 252, therefore, is under compression tending'to urge the roller 245 against the gear 22|. At the opposite end of the lever 246 a pin 266 is threaded into the lever and held therein by a nut 26|. A reduced end portion 262 on the pin 26|) is arranged to engage in a hole 264 located in the block 233.

Thus, as the roller 245 rides up the cam surface 248, the end of the lever 245 which carries the pin 260 will be pivoted to move the block 233 and the attached cutters 235 and 236 forwardly in their cutting stroke.

Operation of the machine -Assume that the machine has been stopped in the position indicated in Figure 1. In this position the indexing pulley 1I is in its uppermost position and the pick-up pulleys 41 and 6| have drawn the wire between the pulleys 45 and 41 taut and the end of the wire is connected around the framework of the take-up spool I6 so that the line between the spool and the wheel 8| is also taut. The machine is ready for the downward indexing movement of the wheel 1I on the arm 15 to move the wire a predetermined distance past the barb-attaching station I3.

vAlso, in this position the cams on the feed dev-ices 22 and 23 which receive the strands 28 and 2| across the barb-attaching station are just about ready to come into operation so that when the wire is indexed new portions of the strands 2D and 2| will be fed across the twister head between the strands lll and When the clutch is engaged and the motor 38 is energized, the shafts 30 and 65 begin to rotate and, due to the eccentric mechanism, the wheel 1| moves downwardly to index the wire through the barb-attaching station, and the feed devices 22 and 23 move a new portion of the strands 20 and 2| across the barb-attaching station. The various other rotating members of the machine are, of course, in motion, the cage I6 and its associated spool winding device are effective to twist and wind the wire around the spool, and the wheels 41 and 6| are in movement to pull the wire around the various guide wheels. The twister head on the shaft 2|1 is of course being rotated, and it is to be noted that the feeding of the strands 20 and 2| across the barb-attaching station must be so coordinated with the rotation of the tube 2|1 that they will be slid between the strands I8 and II when the side walls 2I4 and 2I5 are substantially parallel to the line of movement of the wires. as shown in Figure '1.

As the wheel 1I completes its stroke 'down'-` wardly and begins its upward movement, the pulleys `41 and 6I rotate to pick up the slack in the wire due to the upward movement of the pulley 1I. The wires between the barb-attaching station |3 and the pulley 45 is substantially motionless except for the slight camming action due to the winding of the barb by the twister head.

When the wires 2D and 2| around the vertical wires I and II, the cutter blades, through the lever mechanism 245, are moved forward to sever end sections from wires 2o and 2| by a slanting cut to define sharp pointed barbs.

The mechanism is so coordinated that the wheel 1I will reach its and 2|. Thus, the downward indexing stroke of the wheel 1| will begin just after the barb is severed. A new cycle of operation will then begin to form another barb on the wire.

Figures 1'1 to 20, inclusive, show the portions of the machine of the present invention which must be rearranged when it is adapted for use in making a two-point barb. Figures 23 is a diagrammatic showing of the path of travel of the strands of wire as they are processed through the machine.

Referring to Figure 23, it is seen that a strand of wire 210 is directed substantially vertically through the barb-attaching station I3, over the guide pulleys 45, 1|, 46, 41, 6|, 48, |45, and then onto the spool I8. A second strand of wire 213 is directed over a pulley I99a (Figure 3) which is disposed on the shaft 26| and upwardly over the pulley 46 where it proceeds through the machine alongside of the wire 10, which of course carries the spaced barbs.

A barb forming wire 214 is also directed over the pulley |99 and then substantially laterally through the guide tube |61 to the barb-attaching station I3.

It will be understood that this modified machine works exactly the same as the four-point barb forming machine in the manner and mechanism for feeding the wire 210 periodically through the barb-attaching station by means of the indexing pulley 1I and in the means for tensioning the wire between the pulley 45 and the pulleys 41 and 48 and for winding and twisting the wires 218 and 213 around one another in the cage |6.

As seen in Figure 6, the machine is converted from a four-point barb forming machine to a two-point barb forming machine by unfastening the bracket 229 and removing the guide rod 224. The twister head 2I0 is removed and a two-point twister head 286, Figure 18, is screwed in place. The wire 210 is then threaded through the central opening in the tube 2|1 and through the twister head 286. Thus, for making a two-point barb wire no special guide rod is required for directing the wire through the barb-attaching station.

However, if desired, a new guide rod may be inserted in the tube 2|1. In Figure 17 is shown the guide rod 211 which must be substituted for the guide rod 224 (Figure 15) which is used on the four-point barb forming machine. The rod 211 is adjustably secured in a bracket 218, identical with the bracket 229, by means of an adjustment collar 219 and adjusting plates 28|! and cap screws 28|.

The rod 211 has one central holel 283 extending longitudinally therethrough and is arranged have been wrapped` upper position just aboutA the time cutters 235 and 236 sever the Wires 2|) to receive the single strand of wire 210 and direct it upwardly through the barb-attaching station i3.

It will be noted that only the one wire feeding device 23 is used for a two-point barb forming machine and also that only the one cutter blade 236 is necessary for this machine. The new twister head 286 carries only one twister element 287. In Figure 18, the original position of the strand 274 after it has been fed across the barbattaching station is illustrated.

upstanding wire 270 and the camming nat edge 289 of the twister element. After the twister moves forwardly and severs the strand 2M to dene the barb.

curement of a new barb. As the wire 210 with the barbs thereon and the plain wire 27s enter the cage, the twisting action of the cage wraps these wires around each other, and when they are disposed on the spool I 28 they are in the form of a composite barbed wire.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided in this invention a novel, compact barbed wire forming machine which employs a novel apparatus for feeding the barb 3 It will be recognized also that there is described in this specification a novel method of forming barbed wire which includes, among others, the novel steps of intermittently feeding a wire through a barb-attaching station while simultaneously continuously feeding the barbed horizontally through said station is entirely new in this field.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a Dended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a barbed wire machine, a frame, a twister head on said frame having a rotatable tubular body adapted to receive strand forming wires therethrough and being mounted for rotation around a vertical axis, a twister at the top of said body having a pair of lug portions each being formed with an upwardly extending axial face to engage a barb-forming wire to be twisted, said lug portions being further provided with a rearwardly extending slanted end wall portion adjacent each upwardly extending axial face, said slanted end wall portions forming a camming surface to axially advance accumulated barb-forming wire twisted by said twister head, a pair of tubular guide blocks on opposite sides of said twister head, each block being transversely aligned relative to said vertical axis and being arranged to guide a barb-forming wire toward said twister head in a downwardly slanted direction across said twister, said blocks each having arcuate face portions spaced apart from one another and curved substantially transversely of said barb-forming wire, each arcuate face portion arranged to be intersected by the barb-forming wire extending therethrough, a cutter blade having an arcuate cutting edge complementary to said arcuate face portion and slidable thereon to cut the barb-forming wire, said arcuate face portion and said complementary shaped cutter blade coacting to assistinguiding said cutter blade through its cutting stroke and minimizing burring of the barb-forming wire, and rocker means to reciprocate said blades through a cutting stroke past said barb-forming wires.

2. In a barbed wire machine as defined in claim l, said rocker means more particularly comprising a slidable support member for each cutting blade, a trackway for said support member, a medially pivoted lever arm having a pivot connection at one end with said support member and having a camming surface at the other end thereof, and a continuously rotatable driving cam engaging said driving surface for intermittently reciprocating said slidable support member and its associated cutting blade through a cutting stroke.

3. In a barbed wire machine as defined in claim 2, each of said slidable supp-ort members and each i corresponding cutting blade having adjustably mated complementary male and female parts, and fasteners between said parts to lock said parts in selected adjusted positions.

JOHN B. GETZ.

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